Iran feels the pain: 'Everything has doubled in price'https:encrypted-t...
Iran feels the pain: 'Everything has doubled in price'
Made popular 373 days ago in Politics
worldnews.msnbc.msn.com — TEHRAN – The economy here is in shambles, according to Iranians, whether the government will admit it or not.
The United States, the European Union and the U.N. have imposed tough economic sanctions against Iran –- blocking access to the international banking system and hurting sales of Iranian crude oil -– as a way to persuade Tehran to abandon its nuclear program.
In the short term, the harsh sanctions have had an impact on Iran’s economy -– inflation has gone through the roof, and the unemployment rate is staggering, especially among young Iranians. Prices of consumer goods have doubled, tripled, even quadrupled in some cases, according to consumers.
The business community is in disarray, and as things keep getting worse, it’s all people are talking about.
Barely getting by
At the Tajrish Bazaar in North Tehran on a recent afternoon, Ahmed, a 31-year-old unemployed man, poured his heart out to me. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, as all those interviewed for this story did because of the political sensitivity of speaking out in Iran, he told me his story.
He said he has been unemployed for the past year, doing odd jobs, and that he barely makes enough to feed himself, let alone his wife and children. The lack of jobs and the extraordinary rise in food prices have hamstrung him. But he was most worried about what the crippled economy is doing to the youth of Iran, who he said are turning to crime and drugs if they can’t find work.
In Iran, appearance is everything. How you dress and wear your beard says a lot about your politics.
As I talked to Ahmed, who was dressed in Western-style clothes, another man looked on disapprovingly. He had a full dark black beard and was dressed in conservative black clothes. He was listening to everything Ahmed said and wanted to talk to us, although he declined to give us his name.
He said that people like Ahmed were making excuses and were lazy. He argued that the economy had become tougher, but no more so than the Iranian people were used to over the years. He blamed the U.S. for the bad economy, accusing President Barack Obama of unfairly trying to squeeze Iran. But he said that in the end, the rough economic times had taught Iran to be more self-reliant.
“We need to tighten our belts for now and weather this storm with the West as we have always done. And we will be victorious again,” he said.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdMLLCXLbbc
Report This Post
Posted by AUpolls
Add To Favorites
49 Votes
Similar Issues
3 Comments
ShareThis
Is Obama's strategy of putting sanctions on Iran better than Romney's endorsement of bombing Iran if he his election?
Strong Yes
10%
Yes
37%
Strong No
14%
No
39%
This is not a scientific survey, click here to learn more. Results may not total 100% due to rounding and voting descrepencies.
User Comments
james2044
Posted 373 days ago
0 up votes, 0 down votes
Obama's way works if you want Iran with nuks!
AUpolls
Posted 373 days ago
0 up votes, 0 down votes
@james2044 What will Flip-Flop Mitts way do for us? Exasperate the DEFICIT with another war that would not only be with Iran but possible create some tension with Russia.
lastbaldeagle
Posted 373 days ago
0 up votes, 0 down votes
Au, it takes real balls to call someone else a flip-flopper after the actions of your president the past few days. You lefties are going to have to work overtime to protect Obama from his OWN WORDS from now till November.
You will have 2 minutes to edit your comment.

Add your comments